He is calling

Monday was a holiday here in Australia, Australia Day! It was so cool to see everyone's country pride, and get to try some kangaroo! Fun fact: kangaroos are like the deers of America. You can hunt them and eat them because there are so many and they are looked at as pests. Who knew right?! 

Anyway, This has been a really cool week. We've spent a lot of time this week in lectures talking about listening for gods voice. This is something so simple yet so forgotten. 

When I first got to Australia the story of Hannah was really placed on my heart, so I decided that this is where I would start my devotionals everyday by working through 1 Samuel. It's been amazing having god speak to me through my devotional time but also through the lectures. One thing that's really stuck with me all week through lectures is that when God calls you listen and obey. It seems like it should be the easiest thing in the world, yet most of us including myself run the opposite direction and go "that was cool" and move on. God wants action! He's not talking to you so you can say "neat", he's calling you as his missionary here on earth. We need have the same reaction as Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10, "Speak, for your servant is listening." It is in that moment of listening that god lights that spark that will lead to a fire and a blaze. You need only be still. 

So that's what I have done this week is taking a lot of time for myself to really swell in the presence of god. 

I would like to ask for prayer over understanding for what god is saying to me in my quiet time.

Much love!

So this is Day 1

The last 2 days of travel have felt like a complete dream. I said goodbye to my family, I traveled to 3 different countries, I learned how to travel alone. It was a very eventful 2 days, and the entire time God had his hand in all of it. 

It's been so cool having not even arrived in Australia yet and feeling gods hand bless my trip. On my first flight I got sat next to a kind old man who chatted my ear off about the TRAIL BLAZERS (Marry me Rolo)! God knew I needed a friend. On my second flight I was sat next too a very rough around the edges girl, who turned out had been to Australia before. She explained to me that she was on her way to her 4th rehab facility and was not excited. It was at that time that I got to encourage this girl and make her laugh. We parted ways wishing eachother luck and parting ways as we went on two seperate adventures. 

This all still feel so unreal even as I type this looking out on this beautiful horizon.

Jesus Calling

It's hard to believe that in less than 30 days Australia will be new home for the next season in my life. It feels absolutely surreal that I get to go to these amazing new countries and grow in my relationship with Christ while simultaneously learning about myself and Gods plan for the rest of my life.

As some of you know, I bought a one way ticket to Australia. In the last year I've really felt called to Australia with no idea of what God wanted me to do their. But as I've been preparing for my YWAM adventure over the last few months God has made it abundantly clear that he wants me in Australia with no time limit. So I bought a one way ticket. It's a weird thing not having a date of when I will return home to family and friends but at the same time it is the most exhilarating thing I've ever done.

Last week was my last week of nannying for one of my most favorite families. While the girls were napping I got out my Jesus Calling book and began to do my devotions for the day. "I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey. My living presence is your companion every step of the way." It's amazing how God gives you exactly what you need to hear at the perfect moment. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is where God has called me to serve. I know that God is going before me on this trip, that he will strip me of all anxieties and insecurities and that things will fall into place with his perfect will.

Right now I would appreciate prayers as I prepare to leave for Australia. I would love prayers for safety, finances, health and strength.

Right now I am about a 1/3 of the way funded. GOD IS GOOD! If you feel called to help me financially in this journey there are many ways. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!

https://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/support-christa-s-ywam-adventure/196566

YWAM Bound in 99 Days!

I have the absolute pleasure of writing you to tell you that God has been moving in incredible ways in my life lately. For a long time I have thought and prayed about what to do next in my life. After much thinking and praying, I feel that the Lord has called me to be involved in Youth With A Mission’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Toowoomba, Australia beginning January 24 2015 and ending June 20, 2015.

Youth With a Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational movement of Christians dedicated to presenting Jesus in a personal way to this generation, as well as training, equipping, and mobilizing believers for their part in spreading Gods love. This is my chance! I want to be one who is spiritually, physically, mentally and socially equipped to share the gospel with others. I believe the Lord is giving me this opportunity to grow and be spiritually challenged. I am so excited to learn from and about God in this way!

DTS is a six month program with the first three months called the “lecture phase.” The emphasis of this phase is getting to know God better, His character, His will, intercession and worship, and God’s heart for the lost. The last three months will involve putting what I learned into action! This is called the “outreach phase” and entails going on a cross-cultural evangelistic and service-based outreach to another country. This DTS is designated as a "worship" DTS, a program created to strengthen your relationship with God while finding purpose in the field of music & worship ministry. The outreach sight as of yet has not been determined, but I will keep you updated with that information as I receive it.

You are receiving this letter because you have been an intricate part in my life and my growth. The most important thing that you can do for me as family and friends is to pray for me as I go through this transition in my life. I need prayer for wisdom, discernment, protection, direction, and for God to transform my life!  Another prayer concern is for financial support for the program. I will be raising my own support for this DTS. Everyone in YWAM from the founder down to the beginning DTS student has to raise their own support, and I am no exception. I ask that you would prayerfully consider giving towards my trip, and if you cannot afford it financially, please be in prayer for me as I raise support.

Because the outreach location has not been determined I do not have a fixed amount, but the approximate price of the program is $8500. If you would like to be a part of my time at YWAM financially you can make checks out to me personally. I am so thankful for this privilege to serve the Lord and learn about Him in many new ways. I want to thank you in advance for your prayer and any financial gift you may feel led to give. Please feel free to call me anytime with questions, concerns, or just to talk about my decision.

Once again, I am so excited to be able to share this with you and can’t thank you enough for the support & love you have given to me throughout my life, and now. I am truly blessed.

Blessings,

Christa Colburn

61370 King Solomon Ct

Bend, OR 97702

https://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/support-christa-s-ywam-adventure/196566

Dancing with Cinderella

Lately, i've been focusing on getting out of my comfort zone. Out of my comfortable bubble and into new territory. Last week I went and hung out with a new amazing group of people. If it hadn't been for Bud I never would have gone. But I went, and met new people and practiced normal social interactions. I ended up talking with this wonderful woman for a good chunk of the evening and hearing about all her amazing things she's done in her life. She told me about her travels, her passions, her past and her hopes for the future. With every word out of her mouth I felt more and more comfortable opening up and sharing with he my goals and prayers.  When the end of our talks had come to an end she asked to pray for me, I was baffled. But as she prayed my heart warmed and tears poured from my eyes as she prayed the most beautiful wishes over my life. She had only known me for an hour. Yeah. I know.

Her prayer was straight from her heart to mine. It captured everything I had been feeling and hoping for months and even things I had pushed down so deep I didn't even know existed. This prayer lasted for over 5 minutes. After the prayer she told me she had a vision while she was praying for me and wanted to share it with me. She had pictured me dancing on Gods feet and twirling and laughing and dancing with my father. That I need not worry because God will guide me! That God is proud of the woman I have become and is so over joyed with the future he has laid before me. At this point I burst into sobs. It is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. It reminded me of the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman called Cinderella. I finally understand.

At the end of the night on the car drive home the only word I could use to describe the situation to Bud was weird. It was all just weird. I think it was weird because it was the closest I have felt to God and another person in a really long time. A weird I can get used too.

Sun Stand Still Prayer

Yesterday I started reading a book that my friend had given to me early this weekend. She had told me how this book had changed her way in thinking about her future and how she hoped it would do the same for me. The book is called Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. It's a book that talks about what it looks like to live with audacious faith and "what happens when you dare to ask God for the impossible". The author talks about the story of Joshua and the battle of Caanan. Joshua and his army had almost conquered but knew that come nightfall  the rest of the Amorites would slip away. In order for Joshua to win the battle he prayed one HUGE prayer:

O sun, stand still over Gibeon,

O moon, over the valley of Aijalon. (Verse 12)

God made the sun stand still! Darkness didn't come, the sun did not go down for another day. WHAT!? Mind Blown!!! Joshua had the audacity to pray this ginormous prayer and look how God provided. The sun stood still.

Why do we choose to dumb down our dreams? This friend and I were talking a few weeks ago about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. When I told her I stopped because the way my brain has been formatted I believed it wasn't a realistic dream. Through no fault in anyone in my family, I was raised that singing is not a levelheaded career. It is something that you can love but not something you make a living from or commit your life too. When I explained this to her she stopped me. She told me if I don't dream big I am pretty much saying that that is something to big for God to handle. That he cant provide in that way. Why was I doubting that the Lord couldn't provide in such big ways in my life?

I am not very far into this book at all, page 21, but it already seems to be molding my brain to believe in my dreams. It finishes the second chapter by asking, What is your stand still prayer? This may not be "the correct" way to write this kind of prayer, but this is how it feels right for me. My name is Christa and this is my stand still prayer: 

Lord, I commit myself to you. I wanna sing of your great and wondrous love for the rest of my life. I want to speak to the next generation about you God and for you Lord. To bring them closer in their walk with you. Use me and mold me Lord into the worshiper you want and need me to be. Lord I want to SING for YOU! Whether that be through volunteering or a career as a worship artist, I believe that you will make the sun stand still in my walk with you just like you did for Joshua and show me I am on the right path and what you need me to be doing.

Teach me. Grow me. Mold me. Guide me. 

Amen.

Jesus Firm Foundation

This week at first wednesday we sang a new song called Jesus Firm Foundation. In it it says "And we will not be shaken, Jesus firm foundation." These lyrics really resonated with me this week. So often we let little things in our life shake our world and cause us to think our world is falling to pieces. I have had many MANY moments like this. Me being the drama queen I am, it feels like the end of the world. The thing Im thinking about now is what if we all built on this foundation. God is the one thing that will not change, the one thing that will always be the same. If we built our lived on that we wont be shaken we wont feel as though things are crumbling. I choose to start today. To rebuild my life as Jesus MY firm foundation.